Matchup details

About the Sun Devils: ASU was tied for fifth in the Pac-12 and won two games at the Pac-12 tournament, eventually losing to Arizona in the semifinal. It was likely the 77-72 win over USC that made the difference in ASU getting in the tournament. Four of the five starters were transfer portal acquisitions during the offseason in PG Frankie Collins (9.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.4 apg), G Desmond Cambridge Jr. (14 ppg), his brother Devan (9.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and F Warren Washington (9.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg). The lone holdover from last year’s starting lineup is G D.J. Horne (12.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg). G Austin Nunez, the first guard off the bench, has missed the last six games with a concussion. Sophomore Jamiya Neal has been filling in and managed 45 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks and two steals in six games with a more significant role. ASU’s last tournament appearance came in 2019 when it also played in Dayton, winning its game against St. John’s but losing a first-rounder to Buffalo two days later.

About the Wolf Pack: Making the tournament is quite the reward for a program that went only 13-18 overall and 6-12 (eighth) in the Mountain West a year ago. Coach Steve Alford lost six players to the transfer portal but went out and got four via that route and brought in two high school products who have contributed. Among the newcomers if G Jarod Lucas (17.3 ppg), a transfer from Oregon State who is particularly dangerous from long distance and was named Newcomer of the Year in the conference. Kenan Blackshear (14.4 ppg) and Will Baker (13.5 ppg) were also all-conference selections. Darrion Williams (7.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) was the conference Freshman of the Year. This is the 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Wolf Pack, first since 2019.